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STUDENT'S E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECH REPUBLIC
Faculty of Social Science of Charles University
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
Czech Republic
e-mail: CAROLINA@cuni.cz
tel: (+42 2) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+42 2) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 179, Friday, November 17, 1995.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (November 8-15)
French President Sees Czech Republic as EU and NATO Candidate
French President Jaques Chirac promised Premier Vaclav Klaus support
in the Czech Republic's struggle to join the European Union. Klaus met
with President Chirac and Premier Alain Juppe November 14 on a one-day
official visit to Paris.
The French president said the Czech Republic is a first-rate
candidate for both the EU and NATO. Chirac has been publicly pushing for
Eastern European integration the past five years. Premier Juppe said the
Czech Republic joining NATO is a political process that should follow
integration into the EU.
Klaus said that the French side is also interested in realizing the
projects of certain French companies in the Czech Republic, mainly in
the areas of energy and telecommunication.
David Vozdecky/Andrea Snyder
Government Approves Family Rights Amendment
The government ratified the amendment in the Civil Code dealing with
family rights November 8.
A church wedding and a civil wedding are the same but, to be
officially accepted, the matrimony has to be announced to the matricular
department. The wife has the right to use her maiden name along with her
husband's name. Renewed is the Institute of Common Property. Those
engaged will have the opportunity to make a prenuptial agreement on
property.
The amendment also concerns divorces, simplifying procedures for
divorces agreed to by both partners. This will be the case if the wedded
couple have lived separately for at least six months during a period of
one year. They have to put together an agreement about how they will
deal with mutual concerns after the divorce (For example, the rights of
using an apartment). The couple will also have to let a court decide
what will happen with their underage children. A divorce where one of
the partners does not wish it will be more problematic. The proposed
five-year waiting period for such cases to divorce was not ratified.
The government assured that the ex-spouse who opposed divorce
because of financial concerns should will be protected.
Parental approval of adoption will not be necessary in the case that
the parents show no interest in the child for six months.
The government did not approve the proposal to create an Institute
of Registered Companionship, which could include homosexual couples.
Natasa Hajkova, Jitka Motejzikova/Katerina Rus
A Happy Family Is Most Important
According to a poll taken by the Institute for Public Opinion, 96
percent of respondents say a happy family is of the greatest value.
Friends came a close second with 95 percent. Married men and women see
family as being most important, while the younger generation supports
friendship.
Natasa Hajkova/Andrea Snyder
Do Striking Doctors Break Confidentiality?
During their administrative strike, doctors are sending
documentation (death announcements, disability reports and others) to
the Ministry of Health, by which they are breaking the law about the
health of the people, according to Deputy Minister of Health Ales
Dvoulety (quoted in Lidove noviny, November 11th.) This law requires
doctors to maintain confidentiality. That includes, for example, the
announcement of 20 abortions together with names and addresses of the
women and their families' medical history, or the information about the
patient suffering from cancer, both of which were sent to the Ministry.
Dvoulety further stated that, by this behaviour, doctors not only
risk a reduction of their fees but also discharge from their jobs,
depending on negotiations with the directors of the respective
hospitals. According to Police Spokesman Ales Svoboda, a doctor risks
prosecution if he doesn't maintain confidentiality and his diagnosis
falls into the wrong hands. The patient may also then file charges
against the doctor.
Physicians' Union Club Chairman Dr. David Rath denied the charges
of breaches of confidentiality. Rath said many non-doctors have contact
with such documents, such as insurance agencies or directly in the
Ministry. Rath added that if any doctor is punished, the club will
recommend all doctors on strike to discontinue emergency services. "Now,
at the end of the year, we have all served enough."
Dvoulety responded that contracts of all ministry and insurance
agencies' employees automatically contain confidentiality regulations.
After Carolina's deadline, the strike was called off at the request
of President Vaclav Havel.
Zora Kasikova, Lucie Chytrackova/Klara Schirova
Death of Arnost Gellner
Renowned philosopher and professor at several prestigious
universities Arnost Gellner died suddenly November 5 at the age of 70.
He spent his childhood in Prague in a German-speaking Jewish family, and
after World War II graduated from Oxford University with a degree in
philosophy. From 1949 to 1984 he taught philosophy at the London School
of Economics. After the revolutionary events of 1989 he returned to the
Czech Republic and served as director and a professor at the Center for
the Study of Nationalism at the Central European University.
Gellner published more than 20 monographs and became famous with
his 1959 book World and Things. Only one of his books was published in
Czech - Nations and Nationalism, which has been translated into more
than 20 languages since it was originally published in England in 1983.
Marketa Skodova/Alida Kassymova
Policeman Who Fatally Wounded a German Driver Last Year Has Been
Sentenced
Czech policeman Pavel Sach has been sentenced to eight months'
imprisonment and five years' prohibition from service in any armed force
for fatally wounding German citizen Markus Rankel. The case, decided
November 8 by the West Prague County Court, stems from the road check
Sach conducted on Rankel's auto in front of the Asia Hotel in Pribram
last year (see Carolina 134).
Contradictory witness reports could not be clarified by expert
evidence. Experts said it was possible though improbable that
a policeman's service gun would go off unintentionally. Sach remained in
active service in the Czech Police's Pribram district until the sentence
was given.
Marketa Skodova/Alice Ticha
Auction at the Railway Station
An auction of forgotten things from trains and railway stations
took place in the cultural hall of the Main Railway Station in Prague
between November 13 and 16.The bidding often began at very low prices,
so many older and poor people could renew their wardrobes. Suitcases
with clothing are among the items most frequently lost and never sought.
Among the participants were also those who saw here their last chance to
discover their lost things.
Katerina Zachovalova/Katerina Zachovalova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Slovak National Party Doesn't Want to Investigate President's Treason
Slovak National Party (SNS) Representative Vitazoslav Moric
announced November 8 that SNS, in the interest of calming the domestic
political situation, will not propose a motion for inquiry into the
alleged treason of President Michal Kovac (see Carolina 176).
Petr Pabian/Maria Tripoliti
Petition to Recall Meciar
Enterpreneur Robert Krajnak has launched petition procedures aimed
at recalling Premier Vladimir Meciar. Krajnak purchased a full-page
advertisement in the daily SME, in which he writes "I was born in
totalitarianism, I don't want to die in it." Krajnak intends to gather
by the end of the year the 350,000 signatures necessary for
a referendum.
Petr Pabian/Maria Tripoliti
Arguments in Coalition about Foreign Policy
Minister of Foreign Affairs Juraj Schenk, confirmed that membership
in the EU and NATO is still the long-term aim of coalition foreign
policy, in his November 10 speech in Parliament. He didn't respond to
the demarches from the EU and USA (see Carolina 177), but instead
asserted that the foreign political situation is favorable for Slovakia.
However, some coalition deputies still adhere to the view that
Slovakia, rather than entry into the EU and NATO, should strive for the
status of a neutral country.
Petr Pabian/Maria Tripoliti
Slovak Doctors Will Not Strike
Although the Slovak Medical Chamber expressed its support of the
Czech Physicians' Union Club (LOK) and "is considering a strike in
accordance with their colleagues' example," Slovak doctors are not
preparing a strike. According to Slovak journalist Petr Schutz, the
majority of doctors in Slovakia prefering "certainty in modesty" to the
risk of confrontation. While in EU countries 1,000 inhabitants share
four doctors, in Slovakia the same number of people share eight.
According to Schutz, the potential for the social revolt of Slovak
doctors is low also because of the absence of a Slovak leader with
a personality equivalent to LOK Chairman Dr. David Rath.
Marketa Skodova/Maria Tripoliti
A Czech Movie with Slovak Subtitles Shown in Bratislava
The Union of Slovak Film Distributors and the Cooperative of Slovak
Cinema Proprietors showed the Czech movie Once There Was a Cop with
Slovak subtitles November 9. They wanted to draw the public's attention
to the absurdity of a proposed language law, according to which Czech
films would have to be translated or given subtitles.
Czech-dubbed versions of foreign films still dominate in Slovakia
without protest. Passing the bill would bring distributors higher costs,
and for audiences a tragedy could become a comedy. The humorously
intended November 9 showing took a number of absurd liberties in
subtitling some uniquely Czech phrases, according to Czech daily MF
DNES.
This was the distributors' last attempt to block passing of the
bill on propagation of audiovisual works, which is a part of the
official language law. The law would also require cinema proprietors to
show minimums of 15 percent European and 15 percent Slovak productions,
although few films are produced in Slovakia. If the bill is passed, it
would become valid in 1997.
Olga Huderova/Klara Schirova
ECONOMY
Motoinvest Gains Control of Agrobanka
The Investment and Postal Bank (IPB) sold its share in Agrobanka to
Motoinvest. Already in control of Pilsen Bank, Motoinvest has now gained
control of the country's fifth-largest bank. The Motoinvest group, which
had about 13 percent of Agrobanka's shares, now owns about 31 percent,
which functions as controlling interest. The daily Pravo mentioned
November 9 that "according to well-informed sources, the sale was not
made under pressure but after consultation with other large banks."
Lucie Dvorakova/Alice Ticha
October Inflation Satisfactory
Consumer prices in October rose by 0.6 per cent in comparison with
September, with inflation from last October standing at 8.1 per cent.
Last year's rise in prices from September to October was 1.3 per cent
and 12-month inflation was 8.6 per cent, in each case at least 0.5 per
cent higher than this year's figures.
The October increase of the consumer prices index was influenced
mainly by higher prices for food, beverages, tobacco and clothing. The
biggest yearly increase (in comparison with last October) was noted with
housing expenses (12.9 per cent), clothing and education expenses (more
than 10 per cent) and free time activities (9.6 per cent).
Alice Ticha/Alice Ticha
Companies Refuse Entrance to Highest Inspection Office
The Czech Savings Bank refused last week to cooperate with a tax
audit conducted by the Supreme Control Office (NKU). The bank's
spokesman said the inspection could break confidentiality laws. The
Czech Savings Bank used the examples of the Investment and Postal Bank
and the companies Konstruktiva, Ferona and Kwety ceske, which refuse
inspection on the grounds that the NKU has no legal right to inspect the
economic policies of private organizations. The NKU plans to fine all of
the aforementioned companies.
Czech dailies Svobodne slovo and Lidove Noviny wrote that the
interpretation of the law that enables the NKU to inspect only
organizations that do business with state property is unclear. The
opinions of the government and the NKU, which met to discuss the
problem, markedly differed on the topic of whether the NKU has the right
to audit the paying of taxes by individual taxpayers. The press
spokesman for the Ministry of Finance said only the public tax office
can audit individual tax payers.
Marketa Skodova/Andrea Snyder
Financing for Czech Ecological Construction
According to data from the Czech Office of Statistics, 8.113
billion crowns were used for buildings with ecological specialization in
the first six months of this year. More than half the amount (50.7 per
cent) was covered by the investors, while state grants covered another
significant portion (26.4 per cent). Credits (13.9 per cent) and foreign
sources (6.2 per cent) helped defray costs as well. The remaining 2.8
per cent was paid by unspecified sources.
Alice Ticha/Jitka Motejzikova
CULTURE
Czech Films More Expensive for TV
A new model for trade with Czech films from 1965 to the present was
agreed upon by directors of TV stations Ceska televize, Nova and
Premiera and AB Barrandov film production company, at a November 9
meeting initiated by Minister of Culture Pavel Tigrid. AB Barrandov,
which the Ministry of Culture permits to trade Czech movies in return
for giving 90 per cent of profits to the State Fund for Support and
Development of Czech Cinematography, thus ended its temporary suspension
of sales. The prices of these pictures will probably rise from 10 per
cent to 15 per cent. In reality this means a fairy tale will cost about
380,000 crowns and a feature film about 450,000 crowns. Titles which
attract the most interest from TV stations will be more expensive and
their price will be determined by auction. Today there are about 60 such
films.
The only person who expressed satisfaction with the new arrangement
AB Barrandov Director Vaclav Marhoul. He said those making new films
will benefit most from the raising of prices. On the other hand, Czech
TV Director Ivo Mathe said the situation could cause big financial
problems for his station. Vladimir Zelezny, director of the private TV
station Nova, considers these changes as "small amendments". Jiri
Mejstrik, director of the other private TV station, does not like the
fact that the new conditions apply equally to his station and Nova,
which already has a superior position on the market.
Matej Bartosek/Katerina Zachovalova
Legends of Czech Culture Honored
Seventy-four of the nation's artistic elders received the Senior
Prix 95 November 12 for lifetime achievement. Awards were given for the
long-term activity in broadcast, TV and film. Among the recipients were
actors Otakar Brousek, Josef Langmiler, Milos Nesvadba, Ilja Prachar and
Slavka Budinova, and musicians Stepan Konicek and Ferdinand Havlik. The
whole project was put on thanks to the support of Czech Broadcasting's
Fund for the Artist's Life, the Foibos agency and the Intergram agency.
Marketa Hudkova/Katerina Zachovalova
Laurense's Cubism in Prague
An exhibit of French sculptor Henri Laurense entitled The Cubist Era
opened in Prague's House of the Black Madonna November 9 and will
continue until January 14. Visitors have the chance to see 20 sculptures
and 12 drawings belonging to the style termed "the quiet branch of
Cubism".
Marketa Hudkova/Katerina Zachovalova
Marathon of Contemporary Music
One of the week's interesting and well organized events was the
Marathon of Contemporary Classical Music in Prague's Church of St. Simon
and Juda November 9. The Society for the New Music, which put the event
together, concentrated four ensembles which play and study such music
into one concert lasting from 6 p.m. till midnight. Visitors could leave
or come back any time between compositions. The music marathon, a form
more common to rock festivals, proved its ability to present an unknown
music style very well.
Ensemble L'art pour l'art from Hamburg, Moyzes' quartet from
Bratislava, Prague's Agon Orchestra and Jiri Barta with the Moscow
Contemporary Music Ensemble performed pieces from unknown authors or
freshly written compositions. Their "games with tones" required the use
of recorded music, various noises and sounds and the tearing of paper.
Katerina Zachovalova/Katerina Zachovalova
Lubos Andrst Blues Band Debuted its New Album
The Lubos Andrst Blues Band and Tanya Graves appeared in Prague's
Malostranska Beseda November 14 to debut their new album. The band did
not mark the debut with any champagne or fanfare and instead treated the
evening as a more of a common performance.
The voice of American singer Tanya Graves, in addition to the
repertoire, gave the atmosphere of a New Orleans club to Beseda. Graves,
who arrived in Bohemia five months ago, has become the queen of Prague
blues thanks to the power of her voice and the charm of her expression.
Ondrej Konrad's harmonica solos, traded with the Andrst's traditionally
excellent guitar work, also powered the evening. The band treated the
crowd to renditions of Hoochie Coochie Man, Rock Me, Baby and I've Got
Nothing but Blues, among others.
Klara Schirova/Jitka Motejzikova
New Depository Waits for Approval of Building
The National Library Depository should be built during the next few
months on the grounds of the former state company Vystavnictvi in
Prague's Hostivar neighborhood. The project, financed by the state, will
be the reconstruction of the factory hall, and plans on further
construction on the five-and-a-half hectare property. These new
buildings, which should house the depositories of other Czech libraries,
will rise only if restitutional discrepancies are resolved. The
depository, which should eventually rescue books from the moist setting
of the Clementinum, was created according to the plans of the American
firm The Hillier Group for 267 million crowns.
Because of the modernization of the depository system, the annual
costs for running the institution are estimated at 14 million crowns.
That sum wrinkles the forehead of the National Library, which is afraid
of not being able to pay the entire amount. Defending the future of the
depository should fall to the Society of the Czech National Library,
which was established for that purpose November 14.
Klara Schirova/Jitka Motejzikova
SPORT
The Road to European Soccer Championship in England is Free!
The Czech national soccer team defeated Luxemburg 3-0 in its last
qualification match November 15. This victory cleared the way for the
Czech team to the 1996 European Championship 1996 in England, after
a 16-year absence. Due to the defeat of Norway by the Netherlands 3-0,
the Czech team advanced to the final group as winner of the
qualification group.
Prague's Letna Stadium was sold out (20,239 paid attendance). The
beginning of the match showed nervousness on both sides, and only after
37 minutes of the game was the first goal scored by Drulak. After that
the nervousness disappeared and the Czech side began playing well. In
the first minute of the second half Drulak scored again, and after 10
minutes Berger has cleverly deceived the Luxemburg goalie again. The end
of the game was greeted by fireworks, the national hymn was played and
Premier Vaclav Klaus congratulated players in the locker room.
Karel Bartek/Milan Smid
Czech Soccer Juniors In European Quarterfinals
The Czech junior soccer team defeated Luxembourg team 4:0 in Prague
November 14 and will continue into the European Championships, which
serves as the qualifying round for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Jan Palicka/Jan Palicka
Vsetin in Final Group of European Cup Ice-Hockey
Last year's Czech League champion Vsetin now stands among the best
six teams in Europe. Vsetin's group includes Jokerit Helsinki (Finland)
and HV 71 Jonkoping (Sweden). The other group consists of Feldkirch
(Austria), Dynama Moscow (Russia) and Kolner Haie. The final tournament
is held from 25th to 30th December in Germany.
Petra Rubesova/Jan Palicka
Suprises In The 20th Round of the Extraleague
Results of the 19th round: Olomouc-Zlin 1:3, Vsetin-Jihlava 7:1,
Livinov-Plzen 3:3, Sparta-Brno 4:2, Trinec-Kladno 4:5, Pardubice-Slavia
8:4, Ceske Budejovice-Vitkovice 4:0.
Results of the 20th round: Vitkovice-Pardubice 6:2, Kladno-Ceske
Budejovice 1:5, Brno-Trinec 9:3, Jihlava-Sparta 6:1, Zlin-Litvinov 5:3,
Slavia-Olomouc 6:4, Plzen-Vsetin 1:0.
Petr Mrzena/Jan Palicka
WEATHER
Snow disappeared from city streets, while in the mountains the ski
lifts have been turned on. Meteorologists consider the snowfall
unseasonal and call it the largest early November snowfall in some
years.
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